Massification and Employability of University Graduates in Kenya

Abstract

Massification is a significant enrolment of students in universities over available resources. Kenya has expanded student enrollment in universities beyond the available educational resources, thus raising quality concerns. Quality of education in the universities is related to the judicious use of resources in the institutions, that is, efficiency in the university system. Quality of education enhances efficiency in the university education system and the economy. This study evaluated the impact of massification on external efficiency in universities in Kenya. It sought to determine its impact on the employability of graduates in public and private universities in Kenya. The study adopted a causal-comparative research survey design. The population of the study was 194,852 respondents consisting of 190,674 students and 4,178 lecturers in the eight randomly sampled universities in Kenya. A sample of 437 respondents consisting of 409 students and 12 lecturers from four public and four private universities in Kenya were proportionally derived, and 16 heads of academic departments were selected for the study through a simple random sampling technique. Questionnaires and interviews were used to collect data. According to the findings, students’ questionnaires had a reliability coefficient index of 0.854, and lecturers’ questionnaires had a reliability coefficient index of 0.766, which were deemed reliable, being on the threshold at 0.7 Cronbach Alpha coefficient index. Data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The study showed no significant statistical difference in the impact of massification on external efficiency between public and private universities in Kenya. University graduates face uncertainties about employment after graduation. The study recommends that universities encourage labor market surveys to match their courses to improve the employability of university graduates.